September RV Shipments Hit Six-Year High

RV wholesale shipments to retailers remained strong in September, rising 18.6% above this same month last year to 22,498 units in the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s (RVIA) monthly survey of manufacturers. This was the best September total for RV shipments in six years, with solid growth in towables as well as motorhomes.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, RV shipments continued ahead in September where the annualized rate was more than 310,000 units, approximately 7% higher than last month and nearly 19% ahead of this same month last year. All towable RVs rose nearly 2,500 units or 14% above September’s total in 2012 while motorhome shipments were up 46.3% on deliveries to retailers of 3,317 units.

Comparing the first nine months of 2013 to the same period last year, overall RV shipments were up 12.4% through September finishing at 248,623 total units. Travel trailers remained the largest vehicle category gaining 12.1% with fifth-wheel trailers up 6.5% so far this year. In the motorhome category, Class A shipments have grown 32.9% while Class C motorhomes are up 46.1%.